Visual Essay: South Africa honours Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

How Chris Hani's assassination affected her as well as how Nelson Mandela was made to choose between his wife or the presidency.

A memorial service for South Africa's freedom fighter, the late Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, will be held Friday at the Nairobi Baptist Church.

She called on South Africans to report back what they have done to change another's life in the name of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, in one year.

Sunshine broke through a dense cloud cover over Soweto during multi-faith prayers, while outside the stadium a motorcycle club sporting African National Congress (ANC) colors arrived to pay their respects.

The struggle icon died peacefully at Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg last Monday, surrounded by her family and loved ones.

The choice of Soweto's 37,000-capacity Orlando stadium for both the memorial service and the full state funeral planned for Saturday was highly symbolic.

Her turbulent life was a profile of courage. "She was a hero for us, a fighter with us", said mourner Lilian Motgung, from nearby Zakariyya Park.

Her death will serve to remind generations of our people of a generous and fearless personality, and of a life of nobility and patriotism, service and sacrifice. She never stopped fighting‚ so because of that we are grateful.

Madikizela-Mandela also says that ANC leaders sold her out at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to neutralise her power, when they surrendered her as the only member of the party to defend her actions during the fight against apartheid.

Mananki Joyce Seipei, the mother of a boy whose kidnapping Winnie was convicted of in 1991, was reportedly encouraged by the ANC to attend Wednesday's event. "But also blessed to have Mama Winnie as our matriarch".

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